Apparatus for rinsing dishes and silverware and disposing of table scraps



Aprnl 27, 1954 R. w. STREHLOW 2,676,759

APPARATUS FOR RINSING DISHES AND SILVERWARE AND DISPOSING OF TABLESCRAPS Filed July 24, 1950 4 Sheets-:Sheet 1 mllilll ROBERT W. STREH LOWIN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY A ril 27, 1954 I R. w. STREHLOW 2,676,759

APPARATUS FOR RINSING DISHES AND SILVERWARE AND DISPOSING OF TABLESCRAPS 4 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1950 ROBERT w. STREHLOW INVENTOR4. M BY ATTORNEY Filed July 24, 1950 April 27, 1954 R. w. STREHLOW2,676,759

APPARATUS FOR RINSING DISHES AND SILVERWARE AND DISPOSING OF TABLESCRAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 58 47 53 60 ROBERT W.STREHLOW JNVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 27, 1954 APPKRATUFOR RIN SIN G DISHES AND SIL- VERWARE ANDDISPOSIN G OF TABLE "SCRAPS Robert W. :Strehlow, Milwaukee, -Wis.,assignor to Chain: Belt Company, Milwaukee, -Wis., a

a corporation of Wisconsin *Application July 24, 1950, Serial No.175,643

"6' Claims. .1 r

This invention relates to a inachine which discharges a column ofwater-in a rnann'er which will flood and rinsetable scraps from dishesplaced in its path, which will direct the-table scraps to a grindercommunicatingwith thedrain, and which will recirculate the 'bulk- -ofthe rinsing water forrinsing purposes.

This invention animprovement on-the invention set forth in theco'pending application of Robert W. Strehlow, Albert M. Olson andLawrence E. Kaap and myself, Serial No. 124,156, filed October :28,1949, now Patent 2,5 933'359 1ssued April 1-5, 1952, and entitled Ta'b1eScrap Eliminating Device.

excess water (equal to the make-up water constantiy' being supplied'to'the reservoir less such water as inadvertently passed with the tablescraps to the grinder) would flow from the reservoir throughtheseslots,thereby-providing the necessary water to assist in grinding.*The latter Water also served to flush-the drain to-which the ischargeside of the grinder was connected.

The present invent-ionprovides an *improved separator for separating thetable scraps from the water which is to be recirculated. 'The pre'sentseparator haying. rotary'motion supports'the scraps and. effectivelytransfers them to the grinder. Atthe same "time it 'a'l'lo'wsthe waterto pass through itand not 'apt to become clogged with'scrap particles.Fewer particles can ciprocating type, and there is less possibility ofclogging the pump that-recir'cula'testhe rinsing water.

Another advantage of the present separator is the ease with which it banbe disassembled and cleaned at the end of a 'rinsingand grindingoperation.

According to the present invention there is also provided means forinsuring that a -more adequate supply of water is at'alltimes availableto the grinder so that ground particles leaving the grinder may'beproperly flushed through the In thatapplication, a, machine isprovided for drain into the sewer pipe. restaurants and thelike'which'contai-ns a reser- It has been found that the quantity ofwarm voir or tank near its base into which freshwater Water introducedinto the reservoir may be reof the desired temperature'for rinsingpurposes (R M and the 8051? Of operatiQn lessened if an is introduced.'Water from this reservoir is y p y 0f 0 W il is introduced dipumped upa gusher tube and discharged in the y into the grinder- The DIOViSiOH Oan u form of an arc-hing stream onto a basin disposed y pp y o atpwhichis one of the feaat the top of the cabinet. 'Dishes orsilverware so t epresent invention, has these advanare manually held or passed overthe basin so tagesl that the stream of waterfloods' them on its de-First, it makes 1 p B Ofth scent. The water-and thetable scrapsare-caught grinder-almost immediatelyaftr Water is in the basin and'passthrough an opening toa troduced into the reservoir. With our formersysmechanism which is termed a separator. tom, in Order" that the gTind'W S not p a d The eparator shown in our prior lapiflicQtion until waterwas flowing into-it, it was necessary was an inclined, reciprocatingrack-consisting of to Wait until the reservoir 'was filled with water.bars spaced apart a slight distance-so that water -O therelatively'smalli quantity of ecould flow between them. All but thesmallest 1 Water used, this timedfilaly Was quite a, table scraps wereheld on the bars and the mo advantagetion of th bars urged th s g'crapsd th Second, conservation of warm water "results. cline and into thegrinder feed chute. Since the from reducing ithe q y of Warm Waterinrack was disposed directly above the tank or restroduced' into the syt m to an absolute miniervoir, water passing between the bars f ll imumconsistent with the necessity of'maintainrectly into the tank whereitcould be recirous' desired'tinperature f s g pu p s s lated through thepump and th gusher tub and overflowing just su'fiicient contaminated 51werepmvided in th grinder feed chute water to maintain the recirculatedwater relaon a side of the latter-adjacent the'reservoir and 4.0 tively016 This q d qu y Wa e is somewhat less-than thedesired quantity forgrinding anol flushing.

Third, operation of the-grinder is improved because a'm'ore certainsupply of water is available. -With our former system, should a leaf oflettuce or some other obstruction block passage of water through theseparator for any substantial period of time, all the recirculated waterwould pass through the grinder. Under'these circumstances the pump wouldquickly drain the reservoir, after whioh'there-would be'no wateravailable for grinding until the reservoir wassufficiently refilledby'make up water to permit the pump to resume operation. 7

"Finally; by introducing' cold water directly into the grinder, thetemperature of the water leaving the grinder is reduced and there isless danger of grease being maintained in an uncongealed condition untilit gets into the drain, where its congealing in contact with the coldwalls of the drain may result in cloggingv the drain.

A more detailed exposition of the invention is set forth in thefollowing description, which is to be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the front cover plateremoved and certain parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of one end of the cabinet, looking from theright of Fig. 1 showing the water supply lines;

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the scrapping basin removed and the cover ofthe separator box hinged back to expose the grinder;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, with parts broken awayand removed to illustrate the course the table scraps follow in passingthrough the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line fi-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-5 of Fig. 5;

Figs. '7 and 8 are modified forms of separators which may be employed;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the electrical circuit for the motor; and

Fig. 10 is a diagram of an alternative electrical circuit.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the cabinet generally designated His mounted on a base i2 having depending adjustable legs !3 by means ofwhich the cabinet may be leveled on the floor. The apparatus is providedwith a connection to which the soiled water drain of the restaurant orother establishment in which it is installed may be connected. Thisconsists of a r shaped fitting l5, best illustrated in Fig. 5, to whichis connected a sink [6 disposed above it, and a flexible hose H, theother end of which is clamped on an elbow member It located near themiddle of the cabinet.

Normally the sink it is closed by the overflow pipe I9 which carries atits base a perforated metal stopper flange arranged to seat in the sink.When the overflow pipe is raised, the tank or reservoir portion 21 maybe drained, as at the end of rinsing and grinding operations.

Arranged above the vertical inlet to the elbow member [8 is the grinder,generally designated 22, which consists of the housing 23, rotor is andshearing plate 25 arranged on the lower side of the rotor. The rotor isprovided with teeth 26 which cooperate with the plate 25 to shredgarbage or scraps fed into the machine. Ihe construction of the grinderforms no part of the present invention and need not be described infurther detail. Power for operating the grinder is derived from electricmotor 21, mounted on the frame M, which extends across the base 52 andis preferably mounted thereon by means of a cushioned mounting includingthe rubber washers 28 to absorb vibration.

The grinder is completely separated from the reservoir 2| by means ofthe vertical partition, 25 and the sloping deck 30 which is disposedabove the motor and extends the full width of the machine. The plate 3|located at the back of the cabinet and closing the space between thedeck 38 and the base [2 (see Fig. 5) is removable to permit access tothe end of the grinder, whereby the wing nuts 32 and the end plate 33 ofthe grinder may be removed should it be necessary to remove the rotor 24to regrind teeth or make other necessary repairs.

Also located in the tank 2! is the pump 3%, the inlet of which is baseda short distance above the bottom of the tank. Water pumped from thetank is forced up the gusher tube 35 which lies adjacent the left sideof the cabinet, as seen in Fig. 1, and has a curved portion 33 at itsupper extremity directing the stream of water toward the center of thecabinet. The same motor that operates the grinder is also utilized tooperate the pump and to effectuate the drive, pulleys are mounted on theends of the motor shaft and the pump shaft, which extend to the left ofFig. 1 into the space enclosed by the removable cover 38. The belt 39engaging the pulleys 3? also runs over a pulley Ml secured to a shaft Mfor driving the separator mechanism subsequently to be described. Theshaft 4! is enclosed in a tubular housing 5.2, the inner end of which iscoupled to a shaft 4! extending from a gear box 33. Shaft M is supportedby a bearing box M; mounted on the upright wall it of the cabinet. Atthe end of the shaft 4 i there is a worm d6 which meshes with a wormgear 41 located. in the bearing box d3 to drive, at right angles to theshafts l! and ii, the separator 48, best illustrated in Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 6, the separator 53 consists of a plurality of spaceddiscs 49, spacing being accomplished by the formation of annular ribswhich abut each other as illustrated in said figure. The discs hereillustrated, which are of plain steel are about one sixteenth of an inchthick and are spaced apart a distance about twice their thickness, eachdisc having substantially the same diameter to provide in effect acylindrical surface with openings therein through which water may passwhile the table scraps and other particles are supported by theperipheral portions of the discs.

The discs 49 are mounted on a hub 5!, having a horizontal axis, and areeither locked together or otherwise secured to the hub so as to rotatetherewith as a unitary structure. The hub has a bore through which thespindle 52 extends, the inner end of the spindle having a groove 53permitting its engagement with aligned, transverse pins 54 mounted in arecessed portion of the worm gear shaft 55 and the bore of the hub 5i,respectively. The outer end of the spindle 52, shown to the right inFig. 6, has a notched portion 56, permitting the operator to engage itwith his fingers when the machine. is not running, whereby it may beremoved to the right, disengaging the drive and permitting the hub Eland the discs to be moved sideways between the plates 51 and 58 whichform the sides of the separator box. The spindle 52. also serves as anaxle for the separator, the outer end turning in a bearing 59 mounted onthe rear of the side plate 58. The spindle 52 is retained in drivingposition by the yieldable snap ring tie engaging the left hand shoulderof the notched portion It will be observed by reference to Fig. 4 of thedrawings that the separator d8 is disposed above the deck 30 and to theright of the inlet El to the grinder. Mounted above the grinder inlet 6|is a stack 62 which has vertical walls on three sides, but which isopened on the side where the separator is located to provide a lateralinlet. A flexible stripping element 63 (see Fig. 4) lies across theseparator and removes particles adher- 5. ing thereto, discharging theminto the grinder stack. The direction of rotation of the separator isillustrated by the arrow as shown in Fig. 4. Across the top of the stack62 is a hinged cover 64 which may be opened to the position shown inFig. 3 to expose the grinder located beneath it. Slots 65 are located onthe back side of the stack 62 and since the elevation of these slots islower than the topof the overflow pipe l9, overflow from the reservoiror tank passes through the slots into the grinder rather than throughthe overflow pipe [9. The latter, however, serves as a source ofemergency overflow should the grinder stop and also vents the undersideof the grinder. The latter is important should the grinder create avacuum on its underside because of abnormal grinding conditions.

At the top of the cabinet is a flanged portion 66 having an inwardlyextending rim 6?- on which the catch basin 68 is mounted. The basin 68has a central opening 69 and a depressed silverware trap 10 with alateral opening H through which the table scraps and the water aredesigned to flow. The design of this basin per se forms no part of thepresent invention but it should be pointed out that at the side oppositefrom the opening II, there is an opening in the basin arranged toregister with the end of the pipe 35 so that the rinsing water issuingfrom the latter may spout over the basin and pass therethrough.

The outlet from the catch basin 68 is almost directly above theseparator 48, a baffle plate 72 lying across the top of the separatorserving to direct the water and. scraps from the catch basin to the topof the separator. Baffle plate ?2 is also preferably of flexiblematerial so that should material tend to wedge between it and theseparator it may yield. Together with the side plates 5'? and 58, theplate 12 and the stripper 63 serve to confine the separator anddetermine the course of travel of scraps through the separator box.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown mounted on the back side. of thecabinet, the water supply piping consisting. of the cold water supplyline 13 and the hot water supply line I l. These communicate with eachother through a blending valve 15 and are of course provided with valves(not'shown), the opening of which causes hot and cold water to passtherethrough, respectively. Normally water. of from 105 to 110 F. is thedesirabletemperature for rinsing dishes. The outlet from the blendingvalve 15 is disposed vertically above a cup 16 mounted on the wall ofthe cabinet and having an opening 1! in its lower portion permittingwater to pass directly into the tank or reservoir 2 I. The blendingvalve 15 is arranged sufiiciently above the cup 16 to eliminate anypossible danger of back-siphonage.

The cold water supply line 7.3 also communicates through piping 1'8 withthe header pipe 19, the latter having a series of perforations 80 on itslower side. Water falling from the header pipe 79 is caught in a cup 8|which communicates through openings 82 (seeFigs. 3' and 4) with theconduits 83 located on each side of the separator box. Thus additionalcold water is supplied directly to the separator boxand flows down thesides thereof into the grinder stack and hence into the grinder 22;

It is important that certain control elements be provided to insure.proper operation of the grinder and also to safeguard. the operator.Toinsure a minimum supply of water,.there isprovided. in the. electricalcircuitnfor the grinder motor, (diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9)a 6; flow responsive switch 84 which is closed only when an adequateflow of water is passing through the cold water piping 18. The.construction of the flow responsive switch need not be set forth indetail as it is a well known instrument commonly used. Referencemay behad to Powers Patent No. 2,244,402 illustrating such a switch inconnection with a domestic garbage grinder;

The motor circuit is likewise provided with a safety switch 85 actuatedby a plunger 86 located near the top of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 4.The plunger 86 is operated by the reciprocating pin 81 which is springloaded to maintain it in extended position where it is engaged by thebutton 88 mounted on the lower side of the catch basin 68 so that whenthe latter is in position, the beveled portion of the pin 81 depressesthe plunger 86 and closes the circuit.

The button 88 extends between the rim 5! and the top of the gusher tube35 and to remove the basin from the cabinet the right hand side as shownin Fig. 4 must be elevated first to disengage the button from beneaththe rim. Thus any silverware which is caught in the salvage basin It isretained during removal and is not inadvertently discharged onto theseparator and into the grinder. With the basin removed, the switch 85 isopen and the grinder will not run. This protects the operator should hethen hinge back the cover 64 to inspect the grinder. Both switches 84and 85 must be closed before the grinder will operate.

An alternate electrical circuit is illustrated in Fig. 10, where insteadof a flow responsive switch being employed, a pressure switch 89 isactuated by pressure in the piping 18. By inserting a restricted opening90 between the pressure diaphragm 91 and the outlets 80, pressure isdeveloped which closes the switch 89', and by relating the size of theopening 90 to the pressure at which the switch is set, a predeterminedminimum flow of water to the grinder is obtained as a condition ofitsoperation. Orifice 99 may be of the type shown in Patent No.2,389,134, issued November 20, 1945, entitled Flow Control Valve, andnot only serves to establish the pressure required for operation of theswitch 39, but it may also control the maximum quantity of water passingto the grinder; in the latter instance, a rubber annulus forming theopening contracts under additional pressure to restrict the flow. Theelectrical circuit shown in Fig. 10

is three phase and the switch 85 is similar to the switch 85 except forthe fact that it makes two sets of contacts instead of one underinfluence of the plunger 86, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 10.

The operation of the apparatus may be briefly summarized as follows: Thevalves that control the hot and cold water are opened to-make availablean adequate supply of each. The actual quantity of water issuing fromthe blending valve as well as its temperature is controlled by thesetting of the blending valve. The quantity of water may well be in theneighborhood of 2 gals. per minute with apparatus as illustrated herein.About the same time that the water valves are opened, the motor startingswitch is closed, and the pump 34, the grinder 22 and the separator 48are set in operation. Water flows from the gusher tube 35 at a rate ofapproximately 20 gals. per minute and follows an arching path back tothe catch basin 68, thence through the salvage basin 10 and into theseparator box which confinesthe ends of the separator 48. As dishes-areheld under or passed through the column of water from the gusher tube,they are rinsed and table scraps are carried with the used rinsing waterto the separator.

The speed of rotation of the separator is important so that bones,lettuce leaves and other table scraps will be propelled thereby into thegrinder while the bulk of the water passes through the separator back tothe reservoir. Thus the warm water is retained for re-use, but sincewater is constantly being added to the reservoir some of it must go todrain and the slots 55 in the grinder stack accomplish this purpose.This overflow of water prevents the rinsing water from becoming toocontaminated.

It has been found that the grinder requires both for grinding and fordrain-flushing purposes substantial water in excess of the minimumamount required for rinsing purposes, i. e., the quantity passingthrough the slots 65. Hence the auxiliary supply of cold water from thepipe E8, the cup 8| and the channels 83 is provided. The amount of waterprovided in this manner is approximately 3 gals. per minute and the flowresponsive switch 84 or the pressure switch 89 (depending on whicharrangement is employed) in sures that substantially this quantity ofwater is provided as a condition for the operation of the grinder. Ifthe switch is not closed at the time operations are commenced, becauseof insufficient flow or pressure, the cold water supply valve is openedfurther until adequate fiow or pressure is created to close this switch.

In Figs. 7 and 8, modified forms of separators are illustrated, theseparator shown in Fig. 7 being a cylinder 92 of approximately the samediameter as that of the discs heretofore described and having oblongslots 93 in its surface. These slots 93 provide surface portions betweenthem of a thickness comparable to the thickness of the discs and provideopenings between them comparable to the space between the discs.Circumferentially, they are spaced apart as closely as they can be whilemaintaining the strength to support and propel the table scraps fallingon the separator. The cylinder 92 is supported on the hub 5| by means ofthe spiders 94.

The separator shown in Fig. 8 consists of a helical flight 96 ofconstant diameter mounted by struts 9'! on the hub 5|. The helicalflight 93 may be formed from a wire having a diameter substantiallyequal to the thickness of the discs 49. The same ratio of surfaceportion for supporting the table ,scraps to the opening for passage ofwater through the separator is maintained in the three embodiments ofthe invention illustrated. The separators shown in Figs. '7 and 8 areinterchangeable with the separators shown in the other drawings and theywill cooperate with the feeding plate 12 and the stripping plate 63 aspreviously described. Either separator may be slid vertically frombetween the ends of the separator box 51 and rinsed or cleaned when thedrive spindle 52 is removed as heretofore described.

The speed reduction effectuated by the drive of the separator includingthe worm 46 and worm gear 41 is such that the separator revolves in therange of 200 to 300 R. P. M., a rate which has been found to make theseparator substantially self -cleaning in conjunction with the waterflushing through it. The table scraps which rest on the surface of theseparator are propelled into the grinder while some of the smallerparticles which may pass between the surface portions of the separatorand momentarily lodge on the sides of the openings are thrown bycentrifugal force outwardly from the separator. Substantially higherrates of speed produce too much centrifugal action and result inexcessive water being thrown from the separator.

The slope of the baffle plate 12 and the circumferential portion of theseparator which it approaches encourage the downward passage of waterthrough the separator and not over the top of the separator into thegrinder as would be the case if the plate were set more nearlytangential to the separator. The pocket formed between the plate and therevolving separator is too small, considering the speed of rotation ofthe separator, to permit table scraps to become lodged and held therein.Instead they are conveyed upwardly and over the separator, and suchwater as strikes the plate 12 and is deflected thereby assists theirconveyance, the water itself being then direected down through theseparator to the reservoir, from which it is eventually wasted.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for disposing of table scraps rinsed from dishes andother tableware; a cabinet, a grinder having a feed stack provided witha lateral inlet, a separator box communicating with said inlet, a rotaryseparator mounted on a horizontal axis extending across said box, saidseparator having surface portions disposed to propel solid particlesthrough the inlet while permitting water to fall through the separator,a tank for collecting the water falling through the separator, means forre-using the water collected in the tank for rinsing purposes, and meansfor supplying an auxiliary supply of water to the grinder comprising aconduit extending through the cabinet and a water receiving cupcommunicating with said conduit located outside the cabinet.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, agrinder, a removable catch basin mounted on the support for receivingtable scraps and rinsing water, said basin having a depressed portionfor trapping silverware and a lateral discharge outlet from which thetable scraps may pass to the grinder, instrumentalities operated by thecatch basin rendering the grinder operable when the catch basin ismounted on the support and inoperable when removed, and means effectingengagement between the support and the basin requiring initial elevationof the side of the catch basin in which the discharge outlet is locatedprior to disengagement of the basin from the support, whereby silverwareis retained in the basin during removal of the basin from the support.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporthaving a rim, a gusher tube extending upwardly adjacent said rim, aremovable catch basin mounted on the support for receiving table scrapsand rinsing water and having an aperture registerable with the gushertube, said basin having a depressed portion for trapping silverware anda lateral outlet from which the table scraps may be discharged, and aprotrusion extending from the side of the basin opposite from the outletand between said aperture and the periphery of the basin, saidprotrusion extending laterally from the basin beneath said rim in aposition to prevent elevation of that side of the basin when the basinis mounted on the support, the arrangement requiring initial elevationof the side of the catch basin in which the discharge outlet is locatedprior to disengagement of the basin from the support whereby silverwareis retained in the basin during removal of the basin from the support.

4. In apparatus for rinsing tableware and eliminating table scraps, areservoir, means for supplying to the reservoir a mixture of hot andcold water blended to the desired temperature for rinsing purposes,means for taking water from the reservoir and discharging it so it maybe used to rinse table scraps from tableware, means for separating thetable scraps from the rinsing water after such use, means for grindingthe scraps, means for wasting water from the reservoir, and means forsupplying to the grinding means, without passing through the reservoir,a supply of cold water to satisfy the excess requirements of water forgrinding over that required for rinsing purposes.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including means controllingoperation of the grinder rendered operable only when an adequatepredetermined supply of cold water is provided directly to the grinder,said means being operable independently of whether or not the reservoiris filled with water.

6. In apparatus for rinsing tableware and disposing of table scrapshaving a grinder to disintegrate the scraps and a recirculating watersystem arranged to provide a supply of warm rinsing water and to returnthe same to a holding reservoir, means for separating the table scrapsfrom the rinsing water and for feeding the scraps to the grindercomprising a self-cleaning, rotary drum-like member having its upperportion arranged to intercept passage of liquid to the grinder, saidmember constituting spaced discs arranged to lift and propel scrapsthereover while allowing water to pass through its lower portion, meansfor rotating said member to centrifugally propel scraps lodging on thesides of the openings in the discs into the grinder, such centrifugalaction cooperating with the passage of water through the separator tomaintain the separator substantially self-cleaning without dischargingexcessive warm water into the grinder, and means for supplying auxiliarycold water directly to the grinder to aid in grinding the scraps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 781,550 Prinz Jan. 21, 1905 1,011,119 Collar Dec. 5, 19111,663,398 Cooke Mar. 20, 1923 1,898,249 Hoefiing Feb. 21, 1933 1,951,826Foster Mar. 20, 1934 2,106,851 Nordell Feb. 1, 1938 2,113,704 MenettApr. 12, 1938 2,131,689 Marshall Sept. 2'7, 1938 2,244,373 Powers June3, 1941 2,244,402 Powers June 3, 1941 2,291,809 Jackson Aug. 4, 19422,294,179 Hawley Aug. 25, 1942 2,400,879 Hilliker May 28, 1946 2,421,064Hilliker May 27, 1947 2,440,051 Lind et a1. Apr. 20, 1948 2,593,359Strehlow Apr. 15, -2

